In a little less than a month from now, much of the attention of the nation and a good deal of the world will turn to Denver and St. Paul - the sites of the DNC and RNC. While the presidential nominees of the two major parties are already determined, both of these conventions will draw literally thousands of reporters and journalists. And this fact offers us -- the peace and justice movement -- a tremendous opportunity to ensure our visibility.

United for Peace and Justice has made plans to take advantage of these opportunities. We invite you to join us!

UFPJ is part of the locally-led coalitions organizing activities in both cities, and for the past several months we have been in close contact with organizers in Denver and St. Paul to help develop ways for a strong and clear message to be articulated during the conventions. Our message on Iraq has not changed: the war and occupation must end and it must end now! All of the troops and contractors must be brought home!

We need your help to ensure that UFPJ's voice is heard! Sign-up today to be part of our efforts in Denver (last week of August) or St. Paul (first week of September), or in both cities! Help us distribute literature and stickers, help staff information tables at events, and help carry our banners and signs in the many marches and protest activities scheduled for both cities.

Of course, if you can't come to either Denver or St. Paul, we can use your help in another critically important way: financially!  Please take a moment right now to make a donation that will help ensure our efforts succeed during the conventions.

There are other ways to help as well!  In both cities, local organizers are still struggling with city officials to secure permits for events and activities.  We've seen it before. Delays in issuing permits, intended or not, end up undermining organizing efforts. We urge you to not let this happen! Click here make sure elected officials in Denver and St. Paul hear from people all around the country.

If you plan on going to either Denver or St. Paul, you may want to join an ad-hoc volunteer collective of documentary filmmakers, camera persons, FCP editors, who will be videotaping and editing all of the protests and demonstrations in both cities. Videotaping events will take place everyday, and editors will be digitizing selected clips. Video footage from inside the DNC and RNC will also be obtained. A rough cut of cinema verite documentary will be done at the end of each Convention, which can be fine-tuned at a later date. Please contact Joan Sekler about this project.

Help make sure the peace and justice activities around both conventions are strong, and the voice of the antiwar movement is loud and clear!